Police investigate landscaping case

Woman may have been coerced into paying $10K

Corpus Christi police are investigating whether a woman who paid about $10,000 for landscaping in her yard was coerced into paying for the service, which she said she did not request.

Family members of the woman, who is in her 80s and lives alone, have been circulating an e-mail describing the weekend occurrence, but investigators say some of the information in the correspondence is incorrect.

The e-mail explains that some men brought a load of mulch to the woman's home on Deepdale Drive, and she told them she hadn't ordered it.

"She felt threatened by the men and did pay them and signed a bill of sale," said Lt. Lauren White, the Criminal Investigation Division supervisor who assigned the case to a detective.

The men came back the following day and planted several small trees in the woman's yard without her consent and installed lattice at the side of the home before asking for a substantial payment, White said. Feeling threatened, the woman told police she went to her bank for a cashiers check to make the payment, White said.

Investigators have identified the man in charge and are reviewing video at the woman's bank to see if any of the men came with her, which could indicate she was coerced, White said.

"While there is evidence the man was paid, we can't confirm any threat," White said. "There are some concerns about her confusion. However, there were payments of nearly $10,000 for services certainly well beneath that value."

Corpus Christi Better Business Bureau has heard several complaints dating to 1995 associated with the man police believe was in charge of the landscaping done on the woman's lawn. Four complaints are unresolved.

"Anyone in a similar situation should contact police immediately," White said. "If someone tries to collect for landscape services not requested, people should let our officers handle it."